DKW RT 175
| DKW | |
|---|---|
.jpg) DKW RT 175 (carburettor cover removed) |
|
| RT 175 | |
| Manufacturer | Auto Union |
| Production period | 1954 to 1958 |
| class | motorcycle |
| Motor data | |
| Single cylinder two-stroke engine | |
| Displacement (cm³) | 174 |
| Power (kW / PS ) | 7-7.1 / 9.5-9.6 at 5000 rpm |
| Top speed ( km / h) | about 100 |
| transmission | 4 courses |
| drive | Chain drive |
| Brakes | drums |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1280/1278/1278 |
| Dimensions (L × W × H, mm): | approx. 2000 × 660 × 950 |
| Seat height (cm) | 750/725 / k. A. |
| Empty weight (kg) | 117/130/132 |
The DKW RT 175 was an Auto Union motorcycle . In addition to other DKW brand motorcycles , the company built three RT models with 175 cm³ in Ingolstadt between 1953 and 1958 , as indicated by the type designation.
The abbreviation RT in connection with the brand name DKW stands for Reich type and refers to the relationship with the pre-war motorcycles DKW RT 100 and RT 125 . After the war, the RT 125, RT 200 and RT 250 were first produced, followed by the RT 175 and the two-cylinder model RT 350 .
DKW RT 175
In autumn 1953 Auto Union presented the RT 175 at the International Motorcycle Show in Frankfurt , together with the larger RT 250/2 model . Thanks to its robustness, economy and good driving characteristics, the RT 175 was one of the best-selling machines right away; In the mid-1950s, every second motorcycle in the class up to 175 cm³ was a DKW RT 175 .
The newly developed engine with 174 cm³ had a maximum output of 9.5 PS (7 kW) at 5000 / min and a maximum torque of 1.4 mkp (13.7 Nm) at 3600 / min. The flat torque curve over a wide speed range was characteristic of the engine. The engine is combined in a closed block with clutch and four-speed gearbox.
Other features of the DKW RT 175 were the closed chain case, telescopic fork and straight travel suspension on the rear wheel as well as the carburettor with cover; the cladding was designed in such a way that there was also an intake noise reduction. The drum brakes have a diameter of 150 mm. At the rear, the full hub brake is only faked, because the rear brake is still on the side of the chain case. The RT 175 did not have a brake light as standard . The average fuel consumption was 2.8 liters per 100 km. The RT 175 accelerated to 40 km / h in 4 seconds and to 75 km / h in 13 seconds. The manufacturer stated the maximum speed of 101 km / h lying down and 94 km / h sitting. The RT 175 was not designed for the connection of a sidecar.
The RT 175 is approx. 2000 mm long and approx. 660 mm wide. It has a 13 liter tank, of which 2.5 liters are in reserve. The empty weight of the RT 175 is 117 kg. In the single-cylinder two-stroke engine with mixture lubrication (1:25) and DKW reverse flushing , a flat-bottom piston with a diameter of 62 mm and a piston stroke of 58 mm works. This is why this type of engine is called a " short stroke ". - The two-cylinder model RT 350, which is suitable for sidecars and has been shown at trade fairs since 1953, has the same cylinder dimensions, but was only in the range in 1955/56.
In the autumn of 1954, the RT 175 was given four-way slotted cylinder cooling fins to alleviate thermal problems, and a new telescopic fork with rubber bellows moved upwards, as was still used in the successor model. The price for the “normal version” was 1,420.00 DM, for the “chrome version” 1,475.00 DM
DKW RT 175 S
In September 1955, the successor model, the RT 175 S, came onto the market. The S stands for the rear-wheel swing arm that was now introduced - in line with the general trend at the time . The exterior of the DKW RT 175 S has also been redesigned and, with the buffalo tank enlarged to 15 liters and the two side boxes on the left and right, looked rounder and more compact - but the overall length was only reduced by a few millimeters. The saddle was replaced by a seat cushion for the driver, a pillion seat cushion or a full-length seat bench were available on request. The rear brake has now been designed as a real full-hub brake with an enlarged braking surface.
The engine's output of 9.6 PS (7.1 kW) remained almost unchanged, because Auto Union focused primarily on endurance and robustness in the further development of the engine. The lubrication of the crankshaft bearings has been improved. The new spiked-rib cylinder should further increase the thermal load capacity. Its typical appearance with the numerous laterally offset incisions in the cooling fins led colloquially to the term "porcupine cylinder" - also in the specialist press. The spiked ribs did not serve to enlarge the cooling surface, but were intended to hinder the thermal expansion of the cylinder less than continuous cooling ribs. This reduced the risk of piston seizures and jamming and the motorcycle was now considered to be fully gas-resistant.
Even before the start of sales, the German national team won the International Six-Day Race , the unofficial world championship in off-road sport, with three RT 175 S. The RT 175 S and its successor, the RT 175 VS , were also delivered to the Bundeswehr in an olive green version .
DKW RT 175 VS
.JPG)
Just one year later, in autumn 1956, Auto Union brought out the RT 175 VS , on which the front wheel is also suspended with a swing arm. The designation VS stands for full swing arm. Headlights and handlebars were disguised on the VS model; the shape of the speedometer has also been changed. Otherwise, the RT 175 VS was identical to the previous model except for small details. For example, the regulator of the alternator was relocated to the battery side box to protect it from overheating.
When the DKW RT 175 VS came onto the market, the motorcycle market in Germany had already collapsed, because the economic upturn allowed more and more people to switch to cars . On October 1, 1958, Auto Union therefore sold the entire motorcycle production to Victoria AG in Nuremberg, which, as Zweirad-Union , was still selling the remaining stocks of the DKW RT 175 VS in 1959.
Technical specifications
| DKW RT 175 | DKW RT 175 S | DKW RT 175 VS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| construction time | 1953-1955 | 1955-1956 | 1956-1958 |
| number of pieces | 40,500 | 13,645 | 15,010 |
| engine | 1-cylinder two-stroke | ||
| Displacement | 174 cc | ||
| Bore × stroke | 62 × 58 mm | ||
| power | 9.5 hp | 9.6 hp | |
| Top speed | 94 km / h | 95 km / h | |
| Front suspension | Telescopic fork | Swing arm | |
| Rear suspension | Straight way | Swing arm | |
| Price in DM | 1,420-1,475 | 1,475-1,525 | 1,525-1,575 |
swell
- Frieder Bach, Woldemar Lange, Siegfried Rauch: DKW - MZ: Two brands - one story. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-613-01395-9
- Frank Rönicke : Type compass DKW motorcycles 1920–1979. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-613-02214-1
- Audi AG: The wheel of time . Delius Klasing, 3rd edition, ISBN 3-7688-1011-9
- DKW brochure MB 1940 (200 J 110 II) from 1955
- DKW brochure MB 922 (1053) from 1953
- Auto Union GmbH: DKW Praxis 2nd year issue 10; October 1953
- Auto Union GmbH: DKW Praxis 4th year issue 9; September 1955
- Auto Union GmbH: DKW Praxis 5th year, motorcycle booklet 5; September / October 1956
- Auto Union GmbH: Operating instructions DKW motorcycle RT 175; Edition May 1954
